Recordings.

"Much Ado About Nothing" (Original motion picture...

May 30, 1993|By Sid Smith.

"Much Ado About Nothing" (Original motion picture soundtrack; Epic).

Kenneth Branagh's predestined arthouse hit this summer finds a curious offshoot in this recording of Patrick Doyle's soaring, movie-magical accompaniment. Doyle's score is painted with the same broad strokes, bright colors and swelling harmonies of Branagh's simplistic take on Shakespeare. There's no disputing the moods he intends with his likable melodies, which go in for instant excitement in place of depth or development. (The early strains are more arresting when matched by Branagh's indelible opening image of the male leads on thundering horseback.) Nor should this be confused with the plentiful spoken excerpts that accompanied the likes of Zeffirelli's "Romeo and Juliet" back in the '60s. Except for Emma Thompson's glowing rendition of the opening lines, and Balthazar's garden song, "Sigh No More Ladies," "Much Ado" is strictly an orchestral score, pleasant but discardable.